§4318. Recovery of expenses

A municipality or the State, which has incurred general assistance program costs for
the support of any eligible person, may recover the full amount expended for that
support either from the person relieved or from any person liable for the recipient's
support, their executors or administrators, in a civil action. In no case may a municipality
or the State be authorized to recover through a civil action, the full or part of,
the amount expended for the support of a previously eligible person, if, as a result
of the repayment of that amount, this person would, in all probability, again become
eligible for general assistance. [1985, c. 489, §§8, 14 (RPR).]

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, municipalities have a lien for the value
of all general assistance payments made to a recipient on any lump sum payment made
to that recipient under the former Workers' Compensation Act, the Maine Workers' Compensation
Act of 1992 or similar law of any other state. [1995, c. 462, Pt. A, §44 (AMD).]

The department shall enter into an agreement with the Social Security Administration
to institute an interim assistance reimbursement for the purpose of the repayment
of state and local funds expended for providing assistance to Supplemental Security
Income applicants or recipients while the Supplemental Security Income payments are
pending or suspended. Written authorization must be given by the recipients. [1991, c. 780, Pt. R, §5 (AMD).]

1.Repayment.

[
1985, c. 489, §§8, 14 (RP)
.]

2.Public assistance.

[
1985, c. 489, §§8, 14 (RP)
.]

A municipality may not recover from any recipient who has been injured while performing
work under section 4316-A, subsection 2, any portion of any medical or rehabilitative
expenses associated with that injury or any portion of any other general assistance
benefits associated with that injury. [1991, c. 9, Pt. U, §15 (AMD).]

Nothing in this section may be construed as limiting or affecting in any way the right
of any individual to file an action under the Maine Tort Claims Act, Title 14, chapter
741, except that a municipality that provides general assistance to a minor is absolutely
immune from suit on any tort claims seeking recovery or damages by or on behalf of
the minor recipient in connection with the provision of general assistance. [1991, c. 9, Pt. U, §15 (AMD).]

All collections, fees and payments received by the department from the Federal Government
as a result of an interim assistance reimbursement must be dedicated to support the
administration of the General Assistance program. [1993, c. 415, Pt. H, §1 (NEW).]